Tree surgery



April 28, 1925. 1,535,806 I c. M. BLUME I TREE SURGERY Fil u 22, 1924 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 28, 1925. 4 1,535,806

C. M. BLUME TREE SURGERY Fil y 22 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Patented Apr; 28, 1925'.

" UNITED STATES PATE'NT-TQFFIC'E.

CONWAY Mondrian BLUME, or ORANGE, rnxas.

TREE sURGERY.

Application 1116a Ma -2'2,

, make and use the same.

The present invention relates to tree surgery, and more particularly to an improved process of treatmg diseased and partly de-' cayed trees and in an improved construction of fillerto prevent further decay and seal the cavity made by the removal of the decayed wood. o Anobject of this invention is to provide a one piece filler which is flexible to the re-. quired extent, so that the filler may bend with the trunk of the tree as the latter is swayed by wind and the like and without breaking and cracking the one piece filler throughout its entire length.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a filler for use in tree surgery which is so constructed in one piecethat it will offset all disadvantages heretofore found with fillers made in sections as these sections gradually Work against each other and effect the displacement of the sections and consequent ly the opening of the cavity so that moisture,- rain and seepage are permitted to enter the cavity formed in the tree.

A further object of the invention is to provide a one piece filler with compressible and expansible inserts, so arranged as to permit. of the free flexing of the filler and at the same time distribute the flexing. or bend-- ing throughout the entire length of the filler and thus ofi'set the cracking or breakage of the filler. lit is the cracking or breakage of the filler which is to be overcome and this is accomplished bythe peculiar arrangement of the reinforcements and of the compressible'portions.

t A. still further object of the invention is so position the same and to form peculiar shaped countersinks for the heads and'nuts ofthe bolts as to cause the bark ofthe tree 1924.--ser ia11vo. 715,150. i

to roll over the enlarged ends of the braces and entirely cover and enclose the same after a relatively short period of time. A further object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the wood against the action of the metal and against moisture and also to provide means for cushioning the filler against the wall of the cavity to permit of a reasonable flexing or bending of the trunk or large limb of the tree which is treated. p 7

With the foregoing-and other objects in View, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter-as to both the method of treating trees and the article used in carrying out the method and will be .more particularly pointed out in the claims append ed hereto. 1 l

In the drawings, which show the structure .of the article produced, and wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trunk of a tree which has been treated according to the present invention and to which is ap- I plied a filler constructed acc'ordingito the' present invention.

Figure 2 isa fragmentary vertical section taken throughthe same substantially on the line 2+2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through the upper portion of the treated tree trunk, showing the arrangement of the braces with their countersunk ends, and also A showing the positions of the adjacent compressible inserts.

Figure 4 is a [similar view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 1s a slde elevation of the lower end of a tree trunk according to the present invention and showing a sllghtly modified form filler applied thereto.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the same substantially on the line 6-'6 of Figure 5. I

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the lower end of the tree trunk and filler substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, and

' Figure 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5 and showin rangement of the single transverserace Referring to the drawings, and first to the artreatedaccording to the present method Figures 1 to 4,'both inclusive, designates the trunk of a tree or the like which is to be and with the filler of this inventions The first step in themethod or process is to remove all of the diseased and decayed 'wood and other foreign matter from .the

tree by'making, for each, location, a cavity 11 which is oblong inshape and lengthwise or vertically of the trunk 10 and which has its upper and lower extremities tapered into relatively sharp points 12.

.less irregular and the wood of the tree-will have to be removed or out away to eliminate all of the diseased or decayed wood or other foreign matter so as to leave nothing but the healthy wood which will not promote decomposition.

Y From Figure 2 it will be noted that the top wall 14 of the cavity is inclined outwardly and downwardly and that the bottom wall 15 is disposed substantially parallel thereto or is inclined downwardly and outwardly so as to drain off any'water, seepage or the like which might tend to pocket in the'cavity'and promote decomposition.

' After the. cavity has been thoroughly cleansed of all foreign matter, the wall of the cavity is-painted or.coated with a creosote mineral and vegetable oil to provide a preservative coating 16 for the wood to prevent further decay. After this coating. 16 is. thoroughly'dry, a layer 17 of plastic asphalt is then applied to'seal any opening that might later occur,"and toalso serve as an elastic. packing between the wall of the cavity 11 and the filling of cement which is to be applied. After this plastic coating of asphalt 17 is applied the cavity is left open to the atmosphere for a period of from four to eight days in order to allow' the asphalt .to become thoroughly hardened.

After the drying period has elapsed, thetrunk is then braced at the cavity .11 and these bracescomprise elongated bolts 18 having heads 19 on one endand nuts 20 on the other end. Thesebraces 18 may of course be positioned" in any suitable man- .ner in the. tree trunk 10, but preferably "they are disposed as shown with a single brace 18 disposed transversely through the lower portion of the cavity, 11 and substantially parallel withthe face thereof. Spaced a suitable distance above the-single transverse bolt 18 is a pair of bolts or braces .18

which are crossed and extend substantially diagonally through the cavity 11, and have their opposite ends terminating in the rear sides of the tree trunk 10. These braces 18 may be disposed in any suitable number and are preferably arranged in singles and pairs which alternate throughout the height of the cavity 11;

These bolts 18 are preferably heavily coated with asphalt to offset corrosion and decay and also to prevent anydeleterious action on the surrounding woodincident to the corrosion. The heads or enlarged ends 19 and 20 of the braces 18 are countersunk not only through the bark, but also to the level of the wood or cambium line, so that no resistance will be offered to the new wood as it rolls over the heads 19 and 20.

Another important feature of the method or process is in making these countersinks of substantially the same general contour as the cavity 11 or making them in the form of elongated depressionsaslshown at 21 with tops and bottoms which are sharply converged or pointed so that the new wood may rolloverupon the heads. of the braces and into an oblong seam. v

After the braces 18 have been positioned the. cavity- 11 may now be filled and such v filling-is made into an homogeneous masscomprising preferably a mixture of 'two ,parts' of screened sand and one part cement.

Of course these proportions and ingredients may be. varied as circumstances demand without departing from the spirit of this invention. This mixture is dampened very' slightly to form a plastic mass which may be tamped into the cavity and which will hold its shape without the aid of a supporting wall or mold board. The filling process is preferably started from the bottom point of the. cavity 11 and the mixture is tamped into the cavity slowly and evenly until the desired height is reached. As soon as the desired height is reached the top surface is smoothed off, so as to incline forwardly or outwardly and also incline downwardly from lateral side of the cavity 11. A filler'pl'ate 22 is laid upon the top surface so formed and the-process of pac ing or tamping the cement mixture is continued. It will be noted that the filler plates extend from one side of the cavity to substantially two thirds the distance across the cavity so as to pass thelcenter. The filler plates 22 are of'sufiicient thickness to permit of the compressing of the same to the desired extent when the trunk of the tree is swayed laterally in either direction and at the same time to support the superposed mass of cement without cracking or breaking the same.

In-a cavity of the usual or average size the bottom portion of the filler is substantially eight inches high belowthe first filler plate 22. The materialis tamped continuously and inan integral mass about the lower end oft-he filler plate 22 and above it until a A second filler plate 22 is now-placed. upon the opposite inclined surface, and the process is continued throughout the height of the cavity 11. The filler plates 22 are thus arranged in staggered or offset relation andslightly overlapped, the same'being inclined inwardly toward and past the central line of the cavity 11 and outwardly toward the open side of the trunk 10. Such arrange ment provides for the shedding of water and the drainging oif of seepage and other "accumulations which tend to destroy or otherwise impair the wood or the filling.

It will'be noted from Figures 2, 3 and L particularly, that the braces 18 are embedded into the cementitious mass, so that the mass is thoroughly supported and interposed at different points throughout its height to prevent the cracking or breaking apart of the mass into separate sections because it has been found that when separate sections are used they work against each other and cause displacement ofthe sections withtheconse quent formation of pockets and crevices into which seepage and the like may accumulate and cause decomposition and'destruction of the tree and the filler.

The filler, designated generally by the numeral 23, is thus a one piece integral mass filling cavity 11 and which is provided with the inwardly extending and downwardly and forwardly inclined slits at its opposite edges to receive the filler plates 22. As these slits are arranged in offset or staggered relation there is left a continuous and uninterrupted column of cementitious material extending from end to end of the cavity 11 and which is permitted to flex within the limits of the material and throughout its entire length, and is supported by the filler plates 22. Therefore, as the trunk 11 is flexed back and forth there is no danger of'separa-te parts of the filler working against each other and causing relative displacement. The mass, as a whole, is heldin between the walls13 and connot break up or separate and no part of the same can be dislocated.

In Figures to 8 inclusive a slight elevation is shown wherein. the cavity 24 1s formed in the base of the trunk 25 of the tree and is substantially inverted ilshape.

In this case the cross-section structure of the cavity is substantially the same as above described with the beveled or forwardly converging walls 26 at the forward part of the cavity for holding the filler 27 in place. It will be noted that all the other details of construction and the method of forming and filling the cavity are otherwise identical as above described.

In both forms of the invention it will be noted that the filler is in one piece and comprises a smglemass having the inwardly and forwardly extending slits at its opposite edges to receive the filler plates 22. These filler plates 22 ,may be of any suitable composition but preferably are of an asbestos based composition paper or roofing shingle which is capable of being coinpressed and which will tend to expand into normal position for maintaining the slits closed at all times.

T It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above spe- 'cifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims l/Vhat is claimed is 1. A filling'for tree cavities comprising a homogeneous mass adapted to fill the cavity and provided with flexible inserts extending inwardly at an obtuse angle and in staggered relation from the opposite edges of the filler to permit fiexingof the filler throughout its length and to prevent cracking thereof.

2. A filler for treating cavities comprising a body portion composed of an integral elongated mass adapted, to fill the cavity and provided with diagonal slits extending inwardly from theopposite edges of the mass and in staggered relation relatively to each other, and packing plates fitted insaid slits adapted to support the mass against cracking and permit of the fiexure of the mass from end to end. v

'3. Afiller' for treating cavities comprising a monolithic body mass adapted to fill the cavity and having longitudinally spaced apart slits in its opposite edges with the opposed slits arranged in staggered relationto provide an integral serpentine connecting portion throughout the entire length of the mass and compressible inserts fitted in said slits adapted to support the side portions of the mass and prevent cracking of the serpentine connecting part thereof and adapted to distribute the flexing of the mass throughout its entire length.

e. That method of treating diseased trees which comprises forming a cavity the cavity and permitting to dry, placing a heavy layer of plastic asphalt over said creosote coating to seal the walls of the cavity and toprovide a cushioning layer in the cavity, permitting said plastic'asphalt coat-.

ing to thoroughly dry and become'hard,

placing braces through the trunk of the tree to intersect the cavity and coating the braces with plastic asphalt to prevent decomposition of the Wood thereabout, and

I tamping a cement mixture in the cavity against the cushioning layer andabout sald braces and embedding in the'plastic mass at gated andoppositely pointed cavity in a tree to remove all decayed and diseased suitable intervals and into opposite edge portions of the mass compressible filler.

wood and the like therefrom'and making forwardly converging walls at the front of the cavity, placing a cushioned layer of asphalt against the inneravall of the cavity,

positioning reinforcing braces through the tree and in position to intersect the cavity, tamplng a cementltlous mass In the cavity against said cushioning layer and about said braces to form an integral filling member forthe cavity, and embedding in the. cementitious mass during formation thereof compressiblcefiller plates in the opposite edges of the mass and in inwardly and forwardly inclined positions and insubstantial spaced apart relation one above the other to support the mass and permit flexingof the same throughout its'length. 4

I CONWAY MONCURE BLUlVfE. 

